Our Services are in Jeopardy

Medicaid, which is Medical Assistance or MA in Minnesota, is a household term for many people with disabilities and their families. Nationally, over 10 Million people with disabilities utilize Medicaid to help them be independent and stay in the community.

Proposals at the Federal level would cut Medicaid by 25% in the first 10 years, and 33% within 20 years. There is simply no way to make this level of reduction without harming people with disabilities’ ability to live in the community.

Medicaid provides far beyond hospital care and doctor visits. Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) is actually optional under Medicaid for states. When steep reductions to Medicaid are made at the Federal level, states will be required to make tough decisions about rate reductions to services, changing eligibility, or limiting services that are provided. HCBS is one of the largest areas of spending in Medical Assistance, and due to the optional nature of it, will be very vulnerable when cuts are made.

In Minnesota, Senator Klobuchar and Senator Franken have been vocal opponents of reductions to Medicaid through the current proposals in Congress. There are some key states that you can reach out to where the Senators are on the fence. Please contact your networks and ask them to reach their U.S. Senators and tell them to vote NO and protect Medicaid.

You can find the tools you need, including the key states, what to say and the number to call at www.thisismedicaid.org. Follow @ThisIsMedicaid on twitter and ‘This Is Medicaid’ on Facebook to easily access resources and connect to others who want to protect Medicaid.

Watch this video and share it with your networks: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n900k8LL4yc&feature=youtu.be

By: Susie Emmert Schatz, MSW LGSW
Sr. Director of Advocacy, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
MNCCD Board Member

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